UPDATE: Somebody missing a hawk?

Minutes after I posted this missing hawk info I got an e-mail from a local falconer, Chris Morris. He had already heard about this bird being seen at E. 51st and Atlantic on Tuesday, but hasn't located it or its owner yet. Chris says he can trap it and maybe return it to the owner if it's tagged and if people help him find it. Anybody who sees (or hears) a hawk with bells on it can reach Chris at 652-7918 w or 898-9129 h or 272-8320 c

He says a few inquiries haven't come up with any local falconers missing a bird. The bird could have flown to the area due to migration.

Here's the original post:

On Tuesday around dusk my two boys and I heard bells flying over our heads and saw what I thought was a red-tailed hawk land in our neighbor's pecan tree. The bird flew repeatedly and every time there was that jingle jingle over E. 49th Street.

Jackie Entz at the raptor center at Georgia Southern University told me it's probably a falconer's trained bird. They put bells on them so they can follow the birds while they hunt. Otherwise the birds blend in so well it's hard to find them.

"My best guess is someone is hunting in the area," she said. "Usually they have transmitters on them so they can track them up to 5 miles."

Jackie assured me the bird will still be able to catch its meals, even with the bells warning squirrels and everything else it's coming.